"My goal was to become the UFC champ and that might be put on hold for a little bit so now my goal is to do my best, become a better mixed martial artist, and put on a show for the fans, and represent my team well. That's what motivates me and so does the paycheck, so let's do it... Of course I want to finish Josh. I want bad intentions towards him; I want to destroy this guy. I want to make a statement but if a great fighter shows up and it's a war, then it's a war. I don't plan on sitting back and cruising through a victory, sitting on a lead or something like that. I want to take some risks and I plan on it."
-- Gilbert Melendez has had to put his dreams of being the number one lightweight in the world and the UFC champion on the backburner ever since the Ultimate Fighting Championship stopped signing over its talent. Speaking to MMA Weekly, the Strikeforce lightweight champion discusses taking out his frustrations on a man he's had some major history with in former Strikeforce 155 pound champion Josh Thomson. Melendez and Thomson split their first two meetings in a pair of five round wars which were two of the best fights of their respective years. Will history repeat itself or can "El Nino's" dream of a big finish against "The Punk" come true this Saturday night (May 19. 2012) at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?"
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